In just the second start of his NHL career for the Edmonton Oilers, former University of Maine goaltender Mike Morrison faced former Black Bear teammate Niko Dimitrakos during a shootout implemented by the NHL this season to break ties.

Dimitrakos plays for San Jose.

The two, who have been close friends since “we were 8 or 9” according to Morrison, had dinner together the previous night.

“It was definitely surreal. You’ve got two close friends who have known each other since childhood [squaring off] in front of 18,000,” said Morrison. “I was a little more relaxed. He looked tense. He tried to make one extra move and the puck rolled off his stick. I felt bad for him. He thought too much about his move. I was disappointed. I wanted one of us to do something.”

The Oilers won the shootout 2-1.

Morrison has been a pleasant surprise for the Oilers. He had won his first four starts before Tuesday night’s 3-2 loss to Colorado. It was his fourth straight start. Despite the loss, he is still sporting an impressive 1.76 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.

The 2001-2002 All-Hockey East first-team goalie spent three years in the minors and earned the backup role for Edmonton with an impressive confidence-boosting training camp performance.

Starter Jussi Markkanen was sidelined for a while by a broken collarbone.

Morrison played 18 mop-up minutes in his debut, a 4-0 loss to Dallas on Nov. 7, and made 31 saves a week later in his first start, a 5-2 win over Colorado.

Last week, he followed his 21-save triumph over San Jose with road wins over Minnesota (4-3, 22 saves) and Calgary (2-1 in a shootout, 27 saves).

Morrison was named the NHL’s Defensive Player of the Week.

“For the first time in my life, I’m relaxed. I’m not nervous any more,” said the 26-year-old Morrison. “There’s no other place I need to get to. There’s no other league higher than this. There’s no reason to feel pressure. Goalies are going to lose games and let goals in. I’m not going to worry about it. I’m going to enjoy the moment. This is a dream come true.”

Morrison said if he gives up a goal, he shakes it off.

“I just try to not let them score again,” said Morrison.

He admitted he hasn’t been surprised by his success.

“When I was on the bench watching Markkanen play, I was saying to myself ‘I can do this.’ Fundamentally, this is the smoothest type of hockey to play. The guys know what they’re doing and they do it. If you pay attention, stay on your angle, don’t move too much and keep it simple, it can be pretty easy to play. You’ve got defensemen in front who help you out.”

The Medford, Mass. native said being an Oiler in Edmonton is like being a Red Sox player in Boston.

“It’s great up here. If you go to a restaurant or convenience store, someone will recognize you. We’re all over the TV and radio. It makes you want to take care of business and play well,” said Morrison.

Unlike a lot of goalies, Morrison loves the shootout.

“It’s a blast. I’ve always been a fan of the breakaways. It gives you the opportunity to come up big,” said the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Morrison.

He constantly works on his game and said he doesn’t live in the past even if it involves a positive stretch like his current one.

“I’ve been to hell and back so I know this bubble can burst at any time. Just give me another game. I’ll try to get a win,” said Morrison, a seventh-round draft pick of Edmonton in 1998.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.